Hat with hair opening

ABSTRACT

An example hat includes a visor, and a dome defining a cavity sized to accommodate a wearer&#39;s head. The dome has an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion. A band lines an interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, and the band has an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity. A gripping material is disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer&#39;s head. The dome includes an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim. An elongated slot provided along the arc segment defines a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to hats, and more particularly to hats with a hair opening.

Baseball hats have traditionally been unaccommodating to those with longer hair that style their hair in a ponytail, as a base of the ponytail interferes with a rear of the hat. Although adjustable baseball hats include a rear opening above an adjustment strap, a position of the opening may be misaligned with a base of a wearer's ponytail, and such openings are absent from fitted hats.

SUMMARY

A hat according to an example of the present disclosure includes a visor and a dome defining a cavity sized to accommodate a wearer's head. The dome has an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion. A band lines the interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, and has an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity. A gripping material is disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head. The dome includes an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim. An elongated slot along the arc segment defines a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the elongated slot has lateral sides that are continuous.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a major portion of the dome is composed of one or more first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the second material includes 7-50 times more spandex than each of the one or more first materials.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the hat is a fitted hat, and a portion of the arc segment between the rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim and the elongated slot is continuous.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the band is an elasticized band that is stretchable to accommodate different head sizes.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a length of the elongated slot along the arc segment is 20%-30% of the total length of the arc segment.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the elongated slot is located in the 4/10 of the arc segment that is closest to the apex.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a length of the elongated slot, as measured along an outer surface of the dome is 1.5-2 inches.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the gripping material includes at least one strip of rubber disposed on a portion of the inner surface of the band that at least partially lines the band along the rear dome portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the gripping material extends along an entire circumference of the inner surface of the band.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the dome includes a plurality of triangular panels that are sewn together and meet at the apex, including two first panels of the front dome portion and two second panels of the rear dome portion. The elongated slot formed between the two second panels, and an area of each of the second panels is less than an area of each of the first panels.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the two second panels are spaced apart from the lower peripheral rim.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, one of the two second panels includes a flap that extends onto the other of the two second panels to conceal the elongated slot when hair is not extending through the elongated slot.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the dome includes at least one third panel that defines a portion of the lower peripheral rim, and is disposed in both the front dome portion and the rear dome portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, an angle at which an outer perimeter of the visor meets the dome portion is 140°-150°.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the arc segment is a first arc segment, the dome has a second arc segment that extends from the apex to the visor; and a difference between a length of the second arc segment and a length of the first arc segment is 0.5-1.5 inches.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the difference between the length of the second arc segment and the length of the first arc segment is 0.8-1.2 inches.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a reflective material is provided on an exterior of one or more portions of the dome or visor.

A hat according to an example of the present disclosure includes a visor, and a dome defining a cavity to accommodate a wearer's head. The dome has an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion. The dome includes an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim. An elongated slot along the arc segment defines a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity. The elongated slot has lateral sides that are continuous. A major portion of the dome is composed of one or more first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials. A section of the rear dome portion that extends from the rearmost point to the elongated slot is continuous.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a band lines the interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, and the band has an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity, with a gripping material disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head.

The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a hat.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bottom of the hat of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front of a hat 20 that includes a visor 22 having an outer edge 23, and a dome 24. The dome 24 includes a front dome portion 26, from which the visor 22 extends, and a rear dome portion 28 that is provided opposite the front dome portion 26. The dome 24 defines an internal cavity (not shown) that is sized to accommodate a wearer's head. The dome 24 includes an apex 30 and a plurality of panels 32A-F which meet at the apex 30. The apex 30 is located in the middle of an apex member 31. The panels 32D-F are not visible in FIG. 1, they are shown in additional vantage points provided by FIGS. 2-6. The dome has a lower peripheral rim 38.

A seam 50 is provided between the panels 32A and 32B. An arc segment A1 extends along the seam between the apex 30 and a point 52 at which the seam 50 meets the visor 22. The arc segment A1 has a length L1.

Optionally, a reflective material (e.g., a reflective fabric) may be provided on an exterior of one or more portions of the dome 24 or visor 22 to improve visibility of a wearer (e.g., in dim lighting conditions). In one example, a reflective strip 35 is provided along the sides and back of the dome 24 and/or along the outer edge 23 of the visor 22. Of course, these are only example locations, and other reflective material locations, sizes, or quantities could be used.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hat 20 of FIG. 1. The visor 22 meets the lower peripheral rim 38 in the front dome portion 26. A panel 34A extends along a bottom of the rear dome portion 28, and at least partially defines the lower peripheral rim 38. A panel 34B is disposed between the panel 34A and the panels 32C-D.

As shown in FIG. 2, the visor 22 extends away from the lower peripheral rim 38 at an angle

. In one example,

is 130°-160°. In a further example,

is 140°-150°. In a further example,

is approximately 145°. Each of these angles is steeper than the angle at which a visor of a typical baseball hat meets its lower peripheral rim, which is approximately 165°. By extending at a steeper angle, the lower peripheral rim 38 extends closer to the bottom of a wearer's head, and is able to grip a lower part of the rear of the wearer's head than a typical baseball hat.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the hat of FIG. 1, which illustrates the panels 32C-E and 34A-B. As shown in FIG. 3, an elongated slot 40 is provided between the panels 32D and 32E, along a portion of the seam 56 between the panels 32D and 32E. The elongated slot 40 defines a hair passage 42 that extends through the rear portion 28 of the dome to the internal cavity.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the hat 20. A point 54 along the lower peripheral rim 38 is the rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim 38. An arc segment A2 is provided between the apex 30 and the rearmost point 54, and has a length L2. The arc segment A2 extends along the seam 56 provided between panels 32E and 32D and also extends along the middle of the hair passage 42. In one example, a length of the elongated slot 40 as measured along the outer surface of the dome 24 along arc segment A2 (represented by L3 in FIG. 4) is 20-30% of the total length L2 of the arc segment A2. In one example, the length of the elongated slot 40 is 1.5-2 inches. In a further example, the length of the elongated slot 40 is approximately 1.75 inches. In one example, the elongated slot 40 is located in the 4/10 of the arc segment A2 that is closest to the apex 30.

As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the hat 20 can be a fitted hat, such that a portion of the arc segment portion A2 that extends between the elongated slot 40 and the rearmost point 54 is continuous. Also, the elongated slot 40 has sides 43A and 43B which in the example of FIG. 4 are continuous. As shown in FIG. 4, the panels 32D-E are spaced apart from the lower peripheral rim.

The length L2 of the arc segment A2 on the rear of the hat 20 is greater than the length L1 of the arc segment A1 on the front of the hat 20. In one example, a difference between L2 and L1 is 0.5-1.5 inches. In a further example, the difference between L2 and L1 is 0.8-1.2 inches. In one example, the length L1 of the arc segment A1 is approximately 6.5″ and the length L2 of the arc segment L2 is approximately 7.5″. Of course, other lengths could be used.

FIG. 4 depicts the panels 32D-E and 34A-B. In one example, an area of each of the panels 32D-E, which define the elongated slot 40 in the rear dome portion 28, is less than an area of each of the panels 32A-B in the front dome portion 26.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the hat 20 of FIG. 1. Each of the panels 32A-F is visible in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the generally triangle panels 32A-F meets at the apex 30.

A plane P extends longitudinally between the front dome portion 26 and rear dome portion 28 along a centerline of the hat and bisects the hat 20. Each of the arc segments A1 and A2 lie within the plane P.

As shown in FIG. 5, a flap 58 may optionally be provided which extends from panel 32E onto panel 32D, and extends over the elongated slot 40 to conceal the elongated slot 40 when no hair is extending through the passage 42 defined by the elongated slot 40. Of course this is only an example, and it is understood that the flap 58 could instead extend from panel 32D onto panel 32E, for example.

A major portion of the dome 24 (e.g., including panels 32A-C, 32F, and 34A-B) is composed of one or more first materials (e.g., composed of a single material, or different parts of the major portion are composed of different first materials), and a minor portion of the dome 24 that defines the elongated slot 40 (e.g., the panels 32D-E) is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials, which makes the minor portion more stretchable than the major portion. The stretchability of the minor portion makes the elongated slot 40 suitable for providing the hair passage 42 through which a wearer can extend their hair (e.g., for a bun or a ponytail). In one example, the panels 32D-E are at least partially composed of a four-way stretch spandex material.

In one example, the second material (including at least the panels 32D-E) includes 14%-100% spandex and 0-86% polyester, and the one or more first materials include less spandex (e.g., 2-20%). Thus, in one particular example, the second material includes 7-50 times more spandex than each of the first materials.

In one example, the major portion is composed of a material having an approximately 50% stretch (i.e., an X inch section of the major portion can be stretched to 150% its original length), and the minor portion has an approximately 100% strength (i.e., an X inch section of the minor portion can be stretched to approximately 200% of its original length).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the panels 32C, 32F, 34B, and 34E are partially disposed in the front dome portion 26 and are partially disposed in the rear dome portion 28, while panels 32A-B are entirely disposed in the front dome portion 26, and panels 32D-E are entirely disposed in the rear dome portion 28.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bottom of the hat 20 of FIG. 1 which depicts an inner cavity 60 defined by and provided within the dome 24 for receiving a wearer's head. The hair passage 42 defined by the elongated slot 40 in FIGS. 3-5 that extends through the rear dome portion 28 to the internal cavity 60 and provides an opening for a wearer to extend their hair from the internal cavity 60 through the rear dome portion 28.

An elasticized band 62 lines an interior of the dome 24 along the lower peripheral rim 38. The band 62 is elasticized and is stretchable to accommodate different head sizes. The elasticized band 62 has an inner surface 64 that faces inwards towards the cavity 60. A gripping material 66 is disposed on the inner surface 64 of the band 62 for gripping the wearer's head. In one example, the gripping material 66 is rubber. In the example of FIG. 6, the gripping material 66 comprises a plurality of continuous strips of rubber that are spaced apart from each other. The gripping material 66 has a higher coefficient of friction than the rest of the elasticized band 62, and helps prevent the hat 20 slipping off the head of the wearer, particularly during a fitness activity.

In the example of FIG. 6, the gripping material 66 extends along the entire the lower peripheral rim 38 of the dome 24 except for a portion of the lower peripheral rim 38 from which the visor 22 extends. In one example, the gripping material 66 elasticized band 62 extends along the entire perimeter of the lower peripheral rim 38. In one example, the gripping material 66 is provided on one or more discrete portions of the elasticized band (e.g., at and proximate to the rearmost point 54).

The various features discussed above of the hat 20 make it suitable for use in fitness applications. The hair passage 42 provided by the elongated slot 40 comfortably accommodates wearer's having longer hair by enabling them to pull their hair through the hair passage 42. Also, the elongated slot 40 can be positioned at a suitable location for ponytails and hair buns. The rearmost point 54 on the lower peripheral rim 38 is lower than that of a standard baseball hat, and that aspect, combined with the interior gripping material 66, provides for suitable gripping of the base of a wearer's skull, which prevents the hat 20 from undesirably slipping during fitness exercises such as running and jumping.

Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hat comprising: a visor; a dome defining a cavity sized to accommodate a wearer's head and having an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion; a band that lines an interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, the band having an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity; and a gripping material disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head; the dome comprising an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim, and an elongated slot along the arc segment defining a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity.
 2. The hat of claim 1, wherein the elongated slot has lateral sides that are continuous.
 3. The hat of claim 1, wherein a major portion of the dome is composed of one or more first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials.
 4. The hat of claim 3, wherein the second material includes 7-50 times more spandex than each of the one or more first materials.
 5. The hat of claim 1, wherein the hat is a fitted hat, and a portion of the arc segment between the rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim and the elongated slot is continuous.
 6. The hat of claim 1, wherein the band is an elasticized band that is stretchable to accommodate different head sizes.
 7. The hat of claim 1, wherein a length of the elongated slot along the arc segment is 20%-30% of the total length of the arc segment.
 8. The hat of claim 1, wherein the elongated slot is located in the 4/10 of the arc segment that is closest to the apex.
 9. The hat of claim 1, wherein a length of the elongated slot, as measured along an outer surface of the dome is 1.5-2 inches.
 10. The hat of claim 1, wherein the gripping material comprises at least one strip of rubber disposed on a portion of the inner surface of the band that at least partially lines the band along the rear dome portion.
 11. The hat of claim 10, wherein the gripping material extends along an entire circumference of inner surface of the band.
 12. The hat of claim 1, wherein: the dome comprises a plurality of triangular panels that are sewn together and meet at the apex, including two first panels of the front dome portion and two second panels of the rear dome portion, the elongated slot formed between the two second panels; and an area of each of the second panels is less than an area of each of the first panels.
 13. The hat of claim 12, wherein the two second panels are spaced apart from the lower peripheral rim.
 14. The hat of claim 12, wherein one of the two second panels includes a flap that extends onto the other of the two second panels to conceal the elongated slot when hair is not extending through the elongated slot.
 15. The hat of claim 12, wherein the dome comprises at least one third panel that defines a portion of the lower peripheral rim, and is disposed in both the front dome portion and the rear dome portion.
 16. The hat of claim 1, wherein an angle at which an outer perimeter of the visor meets the dome portion is 140°-150°.
 17. The hat of claim 1, wherein: the arc segment is a first arc segment, the dome has a second arc segment that extends from the apex to the visor; and a difference between a length of the second arc segment and a length of the first arc segment is 0.5-1.5 inches.
 18. The hat of claim 1, comprising a reflective material provided on an exterior of one or more portions of the dome or visor.
 19. A hat comprising: a visor; and a dome defining a cavity to accommodate a wearer's head and having an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion; the dome comprising an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim, and an elongated slot along the arc segment defining a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity, the elongated slot having lateral sides that are continuous; wherein a major portion of the dome is composed of one or more a first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials; and wherein a section of the rear dome portion that extends from the rearmost point to the elongated slot is continuous.
 20. The hat of claim 19, comprising: a band that lines of an interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, the band having an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity; and a gripping material disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head. 